At the forefront of technology and new applications development for satellite end-users is the Chief Technology Officer. These thought leaders and innovators are engineers to the core, so what better way to kick-off the SATELLITE 2012 Engineering Pre-Day than to get the best and brightest on one stage? Gain access to this one-of-a-kind roundtable with our community's leading CTOs, who will share what new developments their R&D teams are focused on, what technology advancements are five to 10 years down the pike, and what technology directions their customers are requesting now.

This session is the starting point for the non-technical manager working within the global satellite market. Seminar leader, Dr. Mark R. Chartrand, will present a comprehensive program offering study of the technology and issues surrounding satellites. Find out how satellites fit into the total telecommunications market, who is doing what in satellite communications, major issues and trends in satellite delivered services and what the ambigious terms, jargon and acronyms used in the satellite business mean.

Military, government and commercial enterprises use Internet Protocols (IP) over satellite to support mission-critical applications. These applications provide timely, reliable and secure information to users in remote locations. This seminar will address the major issues involved in building mission critical satellite networks in the most efficient manner – i.e. minimizing the use of expensive satellite resources. The morning session will describe how to: mitigate IP protocol overheads; compress data and voice traffic; use Quality of Service (QoS) and traffic engineering to ensure that critical data meet performance requirements when networks are congested; use TDM and TDMA DAMA satellite terminals to maximize information bits transported per unit of space segment. In the afternoon the seminar participants will attend the parallel panel “Methods for Improving Satellite Bandwidth Efficiency”, where key industry experts will discuss advanced coding and modulatio n techniques and high efficiency, new generation satellites. The seminar will conclude with case histories that show how to use the concepts described during the day to develop converged, voice, video and data networks to meet performance requirements while minimizing the use of satellite resources.

The satellite industry appears to have weathered the financial storm, with respectable growth across most segments and regions. But will the market continue to perform strongly or is our industry a trailing indicator of economic activity? What makes the satellite industry different from the broader economy? What are the major factors that drive the industry’s pace? Are the current market trends more favorable to existing players or to new businesses? Leading industry analysts offer their insights on the current market trends and how these will pave the direction for the industry’s future.

In January 2011 the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a waiver to In January 2011 the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a waiver to LightSquared to operate a broadband terrestrial network that would use a portion of L-band spectrum adjacent to the L-band frequencies used by the Global Position System (GPS). The waiver was granted on the condition that LightSquared would not interfere with GPS signals. Various components of the GPS community, including the Department of Defense (DoD) and receiver manufacturers, have raised concerns that the LightSquared network would significantly degrade the performance of GPS. LightSquared reached an agreement with Inmarsat in June 2011 to accelerate its acquisition of the operator's lower block of spectrum to move further away from the GPS bandwidth, but the interference questions remained.The panel of experts will discuss this controversial issue and report on the technical results of measurements performed in laboratory simulations to answer the questions, “Would the proposed LightSquared network interfere with GPS?” and “What alternatives might be possible?”

Maritime users are employing an increasing variety of fixed and mobile satellite solutions. However, are satcom solutions fully addressing the maritime sector's requirements? The keynote speaker will provide answers, as well as an opportunity for direct engagement with a maritime group that represents ship managers who collectively control a fleet of more than 4,000 ships.

The cost of access to space continues to rise as the ability of governments to fund all of their required missions wanes. U.S. National Space Policy calls for an increasing commercial role in space goods and services acquisition and hosting payloads on commercial satellites can fill requirements in a timely and cost-effective fashion. In 2011 the Hosted Payload Alliance formed, the USAF SMC Hosted Payload Program Office was established, and the momentum of hosted payloads is increasing. While activity in hosted payloads is rising, will 2012 be the critical turning point in commercial hosted payloads becoming a core element to the government space program? This session will provide an overview of the state of hosted payloads and provide the insights of industry analysts on the prospects for hosted payloads.

Investment bankers share their perspectives on how satellite deals are getting financed from established and non-traditional sources. How are attitudes changing in the public capital markets and the commercial banking world, and among private equity investors and export credit agencies? Key issues include the expectations for, and availability of, capital for new projects, the evolving M&A landscape in the satellite services and manufacturing sectors and the prognosis for greater market share in an increasingly competitive environment.

The increasing diversity of maritime satcom offerings presents a challenge as the satellite industry seeks to effectively communicate its value proposition to ship owners, operators, leasing companies, and an array of other users. As network operators and service providers launch varying levels of services into the market place, the satellite industry has begun to refine the way that it conveys the value proposition of satellite technology to the maritime sector.

As was recently stated at an SMC workshop, the US Government has been involved in hosting payloads for multiple decades, and many lessons have been learned in the process. This panel will discuss applicable lessons learned, such as flight qualification issues, design and integration issues, and the value of collocated capabilities. What are the mission complexities involved, and what are the solutions employed for solving those issues? Hear first hand from these government officials how these issues are relevant to any scenario regarding hosting payloads on commercial platforms, and what are the ideal qualifications required to ensure mutual success.

A layered and tested approach with multiple levels of security is required to protect satellite networks against cyber attacks that can culminate in malicious data corruption, system and service disruptions, and unauthorized information disclosure. This panel will review the threats to your network, what tests you can run to see how secure your network is and, more importantly, what procedures you can implement today for safeguarding your satellite network into the future.

From a shrinking satellite manufacturing base to restrictions on launch vehicle options to changes in the global composition of commercial, military, and scientific satellite constellations and spacecraft, the impact of onerous export controls on U.S. products and technologies over the past decade has had far-reaching consequences for the world’s satellite-enabled marketplace. Finally, after more than a decade, reform is in the air. Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is leading the charge, working to secure our cyber networks and helping to create smarter export controls to increase the ability of U.S. satellite companies to compete globally.

In unsettled market conditions, is growth capital available for expansion or new initiatives? Are balance sheets sufficiently prepared to weather the potential for interest increases or debt maturities? Is M&A on hold due to declines in valuations or scarcity of buyer debt financing? Key satellite operator CFOs will offer their perspective on these issues and share their insights on the year ahead.

There is a significant need to increase satellite bandwidth efficiency. There has been a growing demand for higher data rates to support advanced broadcast systems, such as high definition television delivered by satellite, and higher data rate, lower cost transmission of point to point internet files and streams. This session will explore techniques that have been developed to fit more data into the available satellite bandwidth, both to increase the bits per second per hertz, and to decrease the cost per bit per second. Two major trends will be discussed: The use of advanced methods of modulation and coding, the development of more powerful satellites that employ frequency reuse by means of spot beams which enable higher levels of satellite capacity. The expert panel will discuss the current state of the art and what might be expected in the near future.

Over the past 5 years demand for data services and the transfer of digital information onboard vessels has dramatically increased, and as a result the use of satellite technology has rapidly expanded. Predictions for continued growth are significant. This presentation will draw upon the expertise of one of the industry's leading maritime experts, who will provide an overview of a number of key factors driving this expansion:

• Ship owners/Operators are treating vessels as an extension of the office
• Increased demand for on-board business applications
• Decrease in hardware/service costs
• Increase in satellite coverage over ocean routes
• Smaller antennas
• Standardization of products
• Increased focus on services and solutions, not just hardware

Nearly two years ago, the President of the United States published the National Space Policy calling for departments and agencies to “actively explore the use of inventive, nontraditional arrangements for acquiring commercial space goods and services to meet United States Government requirements.” This panel will highlight the leadership of civil agencies and military departments that are applying public-private partnerships, commercial procurement practices and commercially hosted payloads. What inventive arrangements that leverage commercial space systems, capacities, and practices will broaden human space flight, scientific exploration, civil navigation, and affordable, resilient capabilities for our coalition warfighters?

Why, when and where will investments focusing their bets? Key satellite investors will discuss their perspectives on the attractiveness of satellite and space industry investment opportunities at all stages of development from angel and venture capital rounds to more mature private equity and publicly traded security investments. Major trends and investment themes for the satellite industry sector will be identified as well as the challenges that these investors face to create greater capital formation and investor participation. Insights will be offered on the effects of government regulation on investment decisions and views will be shared regarding good or bad investments in this sector based on experience.

The antenna is the interface between the Earth station or satellite and free space. Its function is to focus the radiation and direct the communications signal in the desired direction. As the size of the antenna increases, the gain increases and the bandwidth decreases. This session will explore the technologies of various types of antennas. The methods used to reduce sidelobes and improve efficiency will be discussed. The radiation pattern must conform to regulatory standards. The technical advantages of phased array antennas will be compared with those of the usual parabolic antennas, including relative cost and performance.

Established in 2010 by the international industry, the GVF Maritime Satcom Forum (MSF) has launched a range of initiatives designed to facilitate more productive satellite-sector engagement with shipping companies. From satcom training and regulatory advocacy to capacity building and product quality assurance, the MSF is matching maritime customer requirements with industry deliverables. In this session, MSF members will provide progress reports and chart the organization's future course.

In these days of shrinking budgets and expanding program costs, government program offices are looking for innovative ways to accomplish their goals with better efficiency and less cost. In 2008, the US Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center’s Development Planning Directorate (SMC/XRF) took a bold step in this direction and funded an unsolicited proposal from SES Government Solutions, and its industry partners, Orbital Sciences and SAIC, to host an Air Force infrared sensor on a commercial communications satellite. The program, the Commercially Hosted Infra-Red Payload (CHIRP), has been a resounding success and has stimulated a whole new market for hosted payloads that we are seeing germinate all over the industry.

This session will examine the inventive teaming arrangements and approaches which leveraged commercial best practices, allowing the government to place capability in orbit in less than three years from contract award to launch.

CEOs from the across the industry share their perspective on the challenges and changes on the global market place, addressing the key issues of what products are most likely to succeed, where the greatest challenges and obstacles exist, what type of financing is most effective now and where their company's plan to invest in order to grow and thrive in today's market.

The satellite industry's offerings have enabled an extension to the maritime environment of services normally found in terrestrial work-places, including voice and high speed broadband access delivering email, intra/inter-net access and video applications for both business and personal usage. What's coming next from leading solution providers... and to what extent will next-generation offerings address shipping companies' demand? This roundtable will seek answers.

In the spring of 2012, a UHF hosted payload owned by the Australian Defence Force will launch aboard the Intelsat IS-22 spacecraft. A significant portion of the payload will be used by the U.S. Department of Defense under an inter-governmental Memorandum of Understanding. The entire UHF Hosted Payload process—from contract to MOU to launch—happened in less than 3 years. The panel will explore the process which enabled the procurement and MOU negotiation to happen. What were the key elements of procurement success for ADF? How did the U.S. DoD and ADF negotiate access to the Payload so rapidly? What were the key lessons learned by the Hosted Payload industry team in contracting and building the UHF payload? Panelists will discuss the use of hosted payloads for joint U.S. and international capability development, and will share insights into the future of joint capability hosted payloads for the U.S and other international endeavors.

New location for 2012 - on the Exhibit Show Floor! Join fellow satellite professionals for the opening of SATELLITE 2012 with the most popular networking event of the show! Catch up with old friends and meet new colleagues as you enjoy good food and drink. The Welcome Reception is open to all attendees.

Sponsored by Thales Alenia Space

When it comes to the Big Four – the CEOs of Eutelsat, Intelsat, SES, and Telesat, the world’s four leading commercial geosynchronous satellite constellations – opportunities and threats often appear at their offices in the same disguises. Will new satellite manufacturing centers open the door to reduced costs and streamlined delivery, or will these options result in flagging reliability and on-orbit problems? Will an expansion of available launch vehicles accelerate time-to-orbit or complicate the marketplace by compromising the business plans of established service providers? Can next-gen television and other video services expand to new content platforms or will all the current frenzy collapse in a sequence of false starts and expensive reboots? Are new markets waiting to be harvested, and what are they? Can these satellite services providers take the lead in spurring the development of new on-ground and in-orbit technologies, or will it be business as usual for the foreseeable future?

SATELLITE 2012 will feature the first-ever Exhibitor Showcase Theater on the Exhibit Show Floor. This forum provides exhibiting companies the opportunity to promote their latest products and solutions to a live audience.

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Cyclone-4: A Medium-class Launch Solution with an Impressive Pedigree and Highly Competitive Price Presented by Alcantara Cyclone Space

1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Advantech Wireless

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Tactical MILSATCOM Solutions for the Battlefield Presented by Gilat Satellite Networks


Please visit www.SATELLITE2012.com/producttheater for more information.

The Washington Space Business Roundtable will host its annual Flagship Luncheon and Silent Auction to raise funds for its scholarship program. To purchase tickets or donate an auction item visit www.wsbr.org.

Join your fellow colleagues in the mobile satellite community as MSUA honors mobile satellite innovators and pioneers with the Pioneer and Innovator Awards. MSUA will present a Pioneer as well as an Innovator Award and both will be showcased at the MSUA-9 Awards Luncheon. The luncheon is highly anticipated and well attended by industry movers and shakers, and this year will be no exception. One ticket is included with your MSUA-9 Conference registration.

Additional tickets can be purchased when registering for SATELLITE 2012.

Since 1995, WTA has presented annual awards to companies and individuals who have dramatically demonstrated excellence in the field of teleport operations, development and technology. Celebrate the winners and network with colleagues during the Awards Luncheon.

Tickets can be purchased when registering for SATELLITE 2012.

The launch vehicle sector has had a very busy year in 2011, along with a few bumps in the road. The conclusion of the 30-year space shuttle program, while never a real factor in commercial communications via satellite, has put a new focus on launch services and annual launch capacity for all payloads, commercial, governmental, military, and scientific. There are only so many rockets to go around. Is the current stable up to the task? Will new or returning providers disrupt the marketplace? Can anything be done to reduce the costs of reaching orbit? And are launch services providers in any way incentivized to drive those costs down?

With the mantra of ‘content anytime, content anywhere’ in full swing, the pressure is on for broadcasters to meet this demand and provide the flexibility and content that consumers demand on more screens and at a time that they demand. This new fragmented landscape presents both threats and opportunities for broadcasters, as traditional revenue streams will erode, but new ones will emerge. As more content is now consumed online and on tablet-like devices, the role of the satellite industry on the future broadcast landscape is now open to question. This roundtable will cover the changes in the broadcast landscape, the role of the satellite industry, and how this multi-screen landscape which is now much more of a reality is leading to strategic change within broadcasters.

Inmarsat’s new GlobalXpress system is designed to hit the sweet spot for long haul airlines, providing both global coverage and low cost Ka-band capacity, to enable Internet connectivity and in-flight phone services for passengers. Once the terminals have been designed and type approved, many in the aeronautical market appear to believe it will quickly supersede the existing solutions of either high cost L-band or limited coverage Ku-band networks and lead to much wider availability of passenger connectivity services. However, ViaSat’s regional Ka-band system offers much cheaper capacity, and after securing deals with both JetBlue and Continental, now appears to pose the main competitive threat to Aircell’s Gogo Air-To-Ground system in North America. Is it a question of horses for courses, leading to a fragmented market of different short haul and long haul passenger connectivity solutions, or will one satellite system come to dominate the aeronautical market? Alternatively, could interoperability between different satellite systems, or a combined satellite and terrestrial network be the optimum long term solution?

New techniques, procedures, and equipment are being developed to address increasing physical, cyber, and RF interference threats. Now more than ever, military and commercial SATCOM providers are being called upon to develop robust and reliable tools to monitor and protect satellite communications against these threats. Industry, government and international efforts provide new tools to identify and mitigate the effects of intentional and unintentional RF interference for satellite communications world-wide.

The industrialized nations appear to be stuck in slow-growth mode as they try to climb out from under massive debt burdens and government budgets face severe pressure. But emerging market economies have largely shaken off the financial crisis and are forging ahead at enviable rates of growth. Where will satellite service providers on the ground and in the sky look for growth in the next three years? What obstacles do they face in the most desirable markets, and how can these be overcome? What kinds of partnerships will be required, and what strategies will produce the best results? And are global opportunities open only to global players, or can the smaller service providers effectively seize opportunities in distant lands?

Sponsored by Space Systems/Loral

The science – and the art – of satellite manufacturing continues to evolve, responding to new market demands, new service architectures, new budget constraints, and new visions of the future of space-based communications. Focus remains on the provision of classic frequency bands, along with considerations of structural elements such as hosted payloads and other configurations designed to reduce the cost of on-orbit capacity or overall spacecraft ownership. How will manufacturers continue to drive higher efficiencies and greater capacity while striving to present a reliable and cost-effective platform? What new technologies will contribute to expanding space-based solutions? How will manufacturers continue to make the business case for satellites lasting for decades?

The onset of 3-D TV has created a great deal of excitement among broadcasters and customers alike. However, with difficult economic conditions in place, customers are being savvy with their next technology purchases, and often have to make decisions between buying a tablet or a next-generation TV, for example. Where does this leave the current state of 3-D TV, and how optimistic should the satellite industry be that this represents a good revenue stream going forward? The panel will separate the myth from the reality.

Sponsored by Telenor

As the dust settles after the announcement of Inmarsat’s Ka-band GlobalXpress service, and competitors consider how it will impact the maritime market, 2012 is the year where Inmarsat will prepare the ground for the introduction of this revolutionary new service offering. Will the emphasis be on the priming the pump for Global Xpress with upgradable combined Ku and L-band services (XpressLink) or on preserving L-band revenues with the existing Very Large Allowance packages of low cost L-band capacity? How will competitors respond, and do they need to also develop their own flat rate combined Ku and L-band services? How is the market for smaller Ku-band antennas, such as KVH’s miniVSAT, evolving, and how will the low cost of Cobham’s Global Xpress terminals affect future expectations for Ku-band equipment pricing?

The US government has dramatically expanded its reliance on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) for homeland security and the US military’s ongoing overseas operations. Is the commercial satellite industry ready to support this surge in demand for secure communications capacity? Can commercial satellite companies’ new infrastructure, and applications able to meet the government’s unique requirements? What technology evolutions are emerging for UAVs and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications?

Ka-band is now moving from concept to hardware in orbit, with $5 billion in spacecraft being launched through 2014, putting unprecedented amounts of new bandwidth into the sky. While business plans are narrowly focused on broadband for consumers and the small office/home office (SOHO) market, it would be naïve to think that this much expansion in total capacity will fail to have impacts, both expected and unpredictable, in the markets for satellite services. Applications under discussion range from video contribution and interactive DTH to hybrid Ku/Ka-band systems for enterprise and government. But the closed nature of Ka-band networks presents a new and challenging model to teleport operators and service providers, who may be competing with a Ka-band alternative in the future. What is the range of likely outcomes for service providers from the growth of Ka-band capacity? What roles may they be able to play in Ka-band networks, and where will there be new opportunities to add value for customers?

Last year we discussed what might happen at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012. ITU WRC-12 concludes in February in Geneva. Satellite companies were heavily involved, but did they achieve a good outcome? Will ITU resolutions adopted at the conference improve the international regulatory framework? Did the scientific community obtain all it wanted for satellite resources? Did the mobile satellite sector obtain more spectrum? This panel will examine the results from the conference and discuss the major controversies which will continue to reverberate throughout the world satellite marketplace.

Improving efficiency is major challenge for broadcasters as they look to deliver content in the most efficient way possible. In a world of evolving standards, new compression schemes, and often conflicting demands from end users and customers, broadcasters – like everyone else – are being challenged to do more with less, and to make existing and future investment stand the test of time. In this panel, we look at the technology available now to broadcasters and how they can become more efficient in this multi-layered environment. We also examine what role satellite technology will play in this drive to a more modern infrastructure and the key technical and operational issues facing broadcasters everywhere.

Over the last year there has been a running battle between LightSquared and the GPS industry over whether LightSquared will be permitted to build out a national terrestrial LTE network in the L-band, or whether interference problems will prevent LightSquared from going ahead with its plans. DISH Network has also proposed the buildout of a similar terrestrial network using the 2GHz MSS spectrum holdings of DBSD and TerreStar. Both projects aimed to meet the FCC’s objective of freeing up more spectrum for mobile broadband, and in exchange for waivers permitting the use of terrestrial-only handsets, both LightSquared and DISH have promised to maintain a robust, nationwide MSS service. However, with the vast majority of the revenue on these networks generated by terrestrial services, does this mean that MSS customers will lose out, or does it mean that satellite services that would otherwise be non-viable could be developed and cross-subsidized from terrestrial revenues? Much will depend not only on the commitments extracted by the FCC, but also on the business models adopted by the companies themselves.

With government budgets set to tighten, effective procurement processes will be key to bringing new technologies, tools and equipment to the warfighter in a timely and cost-efficient manner. What lessons have we learned from FCSA and other past procurement approaches? Which standard industry practices can the DoD adopt or adapt? How can the government’s procurement cycle shorten to more rapidly bring new technologies and applications to the warfighter?

Television has been fundamental to the satellite industry since its inception. And in the opening decades of the 21st century, television is undergoing the most radical transformation in its history. Platforms are multiplying to encompass Internet delivery to the computer or tablet, streaming to the handheld device, download to PVRs, and over-the-top services that embed a Web browser and Internet-delivered content into the familiar TV set. And viewer habits are changing most radically of all. While TV retains the largest audience of all media, consumers increasingly choose to consume it where, when and how they want. How will the radical evolution of TV affect the business of contribution and distribution services via satellite? Will platform multiplicity and the changing economics of the market be a plus or a minus for teleport operators and other ground-based service providers? What moves are they making today in order to prepare for a future of major change?

The Society of Satellite Professionals (SSPI) will host its 25th annual reception and dinner on Tuesday, March 13. The SSPI Gala is the satellite industry's preeminent social and networking event of the year. To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit SSPI Gala's web site at www.sspi.org/?Gala_Attending
or contact SSPI at gala@sspi.org.

After five boom years, 2011 has seen a significant slowdown in revenue growth for the MSS industry, as Inmarsat in particular has been impacted by maritime customers transitioning to new technologies as well as a gradual reduction in government spending in Afghanistan. However, Inmarsat is far from an ex-growth company, with its upcoming Global Xpress Ka-band system set to revolutionize the mobility services landscape for high end data customers. The construction of Iridium’s NEXT satellite system is also now underway and with Globalstar’s relaunch of its two-way services plus Thuraya’s push into new segments of the market such as low speed data and maritime broadband, MSS customers have growing array of service choices. Nevertheless, the slowdown in 2011 has brought into sharp focus the question of whether underlying revenue growth in the MSS market will be strong enough to support all of the current players, especially once high spending L-band customers move up to Ka-band services.

SATELLITE 2012 will feature the first-ever Exhibitor Showcase Theater on the Exhibit Show Floor. This forum provides exhibiting companies the opportunity to promote their latest products and solutions to a live audience.

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Tactical SATCOM, the ideal Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) solution for Digital Army Programs (DAP) - meeting the needs of diverse battle spaces, now and in the future. Presented by Elbit Systems - Shiron Satellite

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - DVB-S3? Next generation Of Satellite Communications Presented by NovelSat

1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Advantech Wireless

Please visit www.SATELLITE2012.com/producttheater for more information.

Even before the 1965 launch of Intelsat-1, engineers and business planners have been plotting ways to extend the usefulness of their space-based assets. From in-orbit refueling to robotic fixes, the past few decades have seen a number of fanciful proposals for satellite life extension. More recently, however, credible and capable commercial operators have developed services that could result in enhanced revenue streams and longer on-orbit capabilities. This holds the potential of extended lifetimes for both commercial as well as government/military spacecraft. Will this new, dynamic, trend yield the desired results? Can in-orbit satellite servicing and refurbishment really deliver additional revenues beyond the projected lifetime of an operational satellite? How long can satellites launched a decade or two ago operate effectively in the face of changing technology, new frequency bands, and ever-evolving ground segment infrastructure?

Through a mix of voice, video, data traffic and IP support, satellites continue to evolve as a networking technology in all regions and for all markets. This state of affairs is a long way from historical satellite usage, which was proprietary and standalone in nature. Satellite solutions now seamlessly integrate with any IP network and serve as a core component or overlay to commercial enterpises, military, safety and security markets.

However, network requirements are ever changing and demand a fresh perspective on the future state of affairs, especially as they relate to satellite usage. This visionary panel brings together speakers across the value chain to discuss the road ahead for satellite networking and real world perspective on where satellite solutions need to move to stay ahead of the curve. How is the satellite industry working together to enable new ground and satellite services? What lessons learned in the broader networking world can be applied to the satellite market? What opportunities exist, and what are the largest barriers facing the satellite industry?

As more satellites go up, the greater the problem of satellite interference becomes. It is a challenge that has dogged the satellite industry for years, and refuses to go away. However, the counter-offensive against this problem was given an un-expected shot in the arm when Eutelsat announced in September that it was implementing a Carrier ID initiative. This will enable Eutelsat to more efficiently identify transmissions to its satellites and accelerate coordination with earth station operators. It could also lead to other operators following suit. This panel will examine the satellite interference issue in light of these developments and examine where it goes next.

Today’s warfighters in the field expect the same high-functioning, interconnected and always-on technology environment they know from home. How are both the military and commercial sector defining the highest priority technical solutions for their requirements from satellite and ground segment, as well as the most cost effective solutions during the economic drawdown? How has industry responded to the DoD’s hunger for bandwidth, both to conduct military operations and to continue to support solider welfare during deployment?

Latin America's big satcom appetite is getting bigger, with two "mega events" slated for Brazil: The FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. What is the true scope of this opportunity, and what preparations are being made by the satellite industry now to ensure that they are able to satisfy broadcasters' demand when the first whistle blows? Will the mistakes made during the World Cup in South Africa be repeated or averted? Are there long-term gains to be realized, or are these flashes in the pan? Attend this session to hear how (and whether) the satellite industry is ready.

Sponsored by Boeing

Don’t miss the marquee event of SATELLITE 2012! Via Satellite magazine presents its Satellite Executive of the Year 2011, honoring the top satellite industry executive who made significant business impact in the global satellite arena. Tickets to the event are included with your SATELLITE 2012 conference registration fee.

High Throughput Satellites (HTS) have established a solid beach front in the commercial satellite market as cornerstones to enabling satellite broadband Internet access, mobility applications, classic enterprise VSAT connectivity, and even for local channel delivery for DTH services. NSR currently forecasts global commercial HTS supply will exceed 1.3 Tbps by 2020, or nearly 19,000 TPEs equivalents at an assumed efficiency of 2 Mbps per Mhz. This will be close to 80% more than the entire forecasted C-, Ku- and wide-beam Ka-band supply expected for the same year!

The question facing this panel is: should the industry step back and focus on making those HTS that are currently planned as successful and profitable as possible? Or are there still other, newer markets that could be well served with HTS capacity and the industry must press ahead with more HTS to try and quickly capitalize on opportunities? Is the industry launching into new era or standing on the edge of another dot-com type oversupply bomb?

More and more next generation Ka-band satellites are being launched, and while there is much talk of satellite broadband and how it dovetails/competes with terrestrial alternatives, it could also offer new opportunities to generate revenues from broadcasting. In this panel, we talk about how these satellites can be monetized for broadcasting, and what the broadcasting opportunities for satellite operators are now and in the future.

Over the last five years we have seen rapid change in the satellite mobility market, with strong growth for both L-band and Ku-band services, particularly for broadband data services across land, maritime and aeronautical markets. As Inmarsat’s GlobalXpress Ka-band system comes to market in the near future, the business models of MSS and VSAT services are expected to blur, and service providers will need to decide how GlobalXpress fits into their service portfolio. Major equipment providers will also need to develop new strategies to compete in a new market with higher volumes and lower pricing across the range of L, Ku and Ka-band terminals. Further technical breakthroughs may also be needed to ensure that customer requirements for low cost portable and mobile terminals can be met. In this session both equipment suppliers and service providers will discuss how they plan to make the most of these new opportunities in the MSS market and where end users will see the greatest benefit.

Western European satellite broadband services are rolling out to the East, and Russian offerings are targeting markets to the West. What are the implications of this broadband face-off? Will the enterprise and consumer marketplace flourish with new, more competitive choices, or will there be a shake-out? Will anti-competitive regulations be thrown up to "protect" the most lucrative markets? Or will demand for satellite services drive new reforms and opportunity? This open-forum session will provide answers.

The U.S. government has increasingly worked with its allies and partners around the world to achieve its military and space objectives. As coalition missions multiply and governments worldwide grapple with squeezed budgets, innovative models from our allies can offer useful insight to balancing national space systems with regional and shared capabilities. How do our key allies approach acquisition of critical satellite communications? What particular challenges emerge as military cultures blended and coalitions of military forces deploy?

From environmentally-friendly satellite manufacture and operations to enabling the next generation of green-energy networks on the ground, the satellite industry is in the midst of the environmental revolution. Can an adoption of cleaner technologies in the space segment provide cost savings for the satellite industry? What is the environmental impact from launch vehicles and can it be reduced? Will ground-segment manufactures and earth station operators embrace a new breed of energy efficient devices? What opportunities does the green-energy revolution contain for the satellite industry?

This session digs into the convenient facts about the potential cost savings for the satellite industry by reducing its environmental footprint, and brings light to new opportunities for satellite services in the developing green economy.

As 2012 really gets underway, more and more dedicated and ad hoc satellite-based distributed video networks continue to broadcast or are being created to serve a variety of governmental and military requirements. From password-protected programming dealing with sensitive training or informational matters to targeted, on-the-fly, video programming for specific audiences, the role of satellite in content distribution for government and military customers continues to grow. Some networks, such as a proposed national traffic control solutions scheme, require significant bandwidth but never reach audience eyes. Others, such as NASA Television, come with all the trappings and all the requirements of a full-blown international broadcast network. How is satellite adapting to the needs of this diverse and demanding user set? How can the satellite marketplace foster continued growth of this expanding revenue stream? And what opportunities are there for long-term commitments of bandwidth and capacity?

As broadband data users move inexorably from L-band towards higher capacity Ku and Ka-band services, MSS operators are now expecting lower speed M2M data services to play an ever more important role in filling their MSS satellite capacity and boosting their revenue growth rates. This expectation is founded on the new, lower cost satellite data devices that have become available in recent years, as well as the innovative solutions that have enabled providers such as SPOT to open up completely new consumer opportunities for MSS. Many in the industry believe that a continuing stream of innovations will support both expansion of current key market segments (transportation, heavy equipment, asset tracking) and development of new opportunities and thus expect that robust satellite M2M revenue growth will continue over the next decade. However, it remains uncertain how the satellite M2M market will be impacted by the new dual mode satellite-terrestrial chipsets being developed by Qualcomm and Hughes or whether specialist satellite chipsets will continue to provide the optimum solution for end users.

As long-awaited Ku and C-band footprints land in Africa and the Middle East -- and as the regions' first-ever Ka-band services are launched -- fiber penetration is making major inroads in the highly-prized urban centers and wireless consolidation continues to impact the back-haul business. Can satellite service providers survive these concurrent transitions? Can they thrive? This forum features local experts from the fiber, wireless and satellite industries and will provide market insights concerning the short, medium and long-term future of these turbulent regions.

For the past decade, the commercial satellite industry has sought reform of the legislation that governs trade in satellites and related components. Now, with decreases in satellite employment and erosions in the space industrial base, the US government may share concerns that over-regulating satellite exports has had unintended consequences. Is 2012 the year for Congress to pass legislation to address the long-standing satellite ITAR issue? What are the game-changing events that might alter the dynamics of the debate on Capitol Hill? How have the overall export reform initiatives and the National Space Policy affected the Administration’s views of ITAR and its effects on the U.S. space industry?

The television market is undergoing radical change from Internet streaming video services bypassing traditional channels and reaching directly into consumer living rooms. Facing an onslaught of content demand, MSOs are looking for new, cost-effective distribution paths from source to head-end. Content aggregation Internet streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and content producers such as CNN, HBO, or CBS are responding to increasing subscriber interest in on-demand internet-based access to their media libraries. Already, terrestrial TV operators are feeling the pressure to compete with these online video services by boosting VOD offerings, bundling a branded online video streaming option, and integrating these services directly into setup boxes. Do these pressures exist for Satellite Pay-TV offerings? How can Direct-to-Home service providers, satellite operators, and hardware manufacturers prepare for the internet-enabled TV generation? What role will satellite play in enabling a new generation of MSO on-demand services?

This session will focus on the impact of on-demand Internet streaming services and address how satellite players are preparing. Which business models will satisfy subscribers, content producers, and shareholders? What technological evolutions will be required to bring the Internet to the DTH subscriber? And, how will satellite services power these non-traditional on-demand offerings by existing cable head-ends?

After the launch of Inmarsat’s ISatPhone Pro in June 2010 and with Globalstar’s anticipated re-entry into two-way services, the handheld MSS market is entering a new phase of intense competition. However, to date Iridium has managed to sustain its dominant market position, and even grow its handheld subscriber base. TerreStar made little impression on the market with the original launch of its Genus phone, but now DISH Network is promising to offer a robust, integrated satellite and terrestrial service. LightSquared plans to compete for handheld MSS customers as well. Where do MSS operators see the growth opportunities for handheld satellite phones? Is there a desirable untapped opportunity at the low end of the market and will consumers ever buy MSS phones for everyday use? What do existing users need in terms of new data capabilities on their satellite phones?

China's international satcom ambitions loom large. Japan has fielded the biggest satellite constellation in the nation's history. Indian, Malaysian, Thai and Australian ambitions reach far beyond the Asia Pacific. From MSS to DBS and from consumer broadband to maritime, energy, and government markets, this session will reveal the applications, markets and business plans of the region's leading satcom players.

Satellite communications have proven to be essential in supporting rescue and post-disaster recovery efforts around the world, whether in urban areas or hard-to-reach locations. Smart public safety strategies and plans are essential to permit the myriad national and international government entities, telco service providers, NGOs and end-users that work together on successful recovery and relief efforts.

Sponsored by Arianespace

The ultimate networking event of SATELLITE 2012! Join the Satellite Executive of the Year for an evening reception in his or her honor. Your ticket to the event is included with your SATELLITE 2012 conference registration fee.

For several years now, the communications sector and satellite industry leaders have been collaborating to combat satellite interference throughout the world. What results have been achieved? What challenges remain to be addressed? And what is required to address those outstanding challenges? This Summit will provide answers.

There is no charge for attendance, but seating will be limited. To ensure a place for your organization in this important forum, RSVP today at the GVF or sIRG websites (www.gvf.org or www.satirg.org).

Satellite broadband is here to stay, and the emphasis has shifted from introducing Ka-band and extolling its virtues to service provision and the drive for profitability. Today’s customers of every stripe expect the same service and experience regardless of location, device, frequency, or connectivity. They see satellite as part of the “cloud’ and expect satellite services to be seamlessly integrated into world and local networks. Meanwhile, the wireless industry touts an “any applications anywhere” capability, but the necessary bandwidth and QOS do not exist everywhere. The satellite industry can solve this problem by mixing various space-based technologies into the cloud. There is a marked shift to providing broadband that can then carry other content, such as television programming or communications. The new generation of Ka-band satellites shows promise to be a fiber alternative as well as a consumer broadband solution. How will this multifaceted promise be realized?

The Big Four international satellite operators always have enjoyed a dominant and sweeping impact on the global market for space-based services and products. Over time, the business model for satellite companies has ebbed and flowed, with consolidation the mantra in one era and diversification the buzz word in another. How are the world’s next-gen satellite-enabled marketplace leaders sizing up the future of communications via satellite? Will diversified service offerings and the “one-stop shop” model be the dominant approach in coming years? Can focus on a single market or suite of related services prevail in an increasingly interdependent and intermingled world? How do end user perceptions of satellite shape the way companies grow and evolve? And which architectures will lay claim to global market dominance in the years to come?